On June 3, 2025, the Netherlands updated its Trade Act with a new regulation. This regulation, issued by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, aims to strengthen the supervision of consumer products by adapting the provisions of the EU’s General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), which entered into force in December 2024.
The new regulation makes it mandatory for all consumer products in the Netherlands to comply with the safety criteria under the GPSR. This includes technical documentation, risk assessments and declarations of conformity. These changes affect a wide range of products such as toys, textiles and household goods.
The NVWA (Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit – Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority) has been authorized for inspection and enforcement. The GPSR’s effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions will now be applicable in the Netherlands. Depending on the severity of the breach, these can include fines, product recalls or even market bans.
What do you need to do?
โ- Ensure products are GPSR compliant: Review production, design, labeling and documentation processes.
โ- Initiate internal audits: Identify missing documents or those that need to be updated early.
โ- Discuss contracts with suppliers: Clearly allocate responsibilities for security.
โ- Organize employee trainings: Inform your team about GPSR requirements, notification and recall procedures.
With the new regulation, the Netherlands aims to increase consumer safety by bringing the strict safety standards introduced by the GPSR to the national level. It is critical for manufacturers and sellers to be prepared for these changes in terms of risk management.
